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PENNSYLVANIA GLOB LECTURES. 



COURSE OF 1889-1890. 



CITIZENSHIP; ITS PRIVILEGES 
AND DUTIES. 



AN ADDRESS \ , // 7 & 



VK 281890 



/) 



Hon. George W. Delamater. 



PUBLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION. 



PHILADELPHIA : 
PENNSYLVANIA CLUB 

1423 Walnut Street. 
1890. 



'A 



2 



Copyright, 1890, 
By GEORGE W. DELAMATER. 



PRESS OF WM F. FELL & CO. 

1220-24 SANSOM STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA. 



CITIZENSHIP: ITS PRIVILEGES AND 
DUTIES.* 



When I was first honored by your invitation to 
address you, I had hoped to be able to give much 
time and thought to preparation. Hence, I selected 
the subject of " Citizenship : its Duties and Privi- 
leges," as the one most likely to interest you and 
inspire myself. Since then, however, the calls upon 
me have been so extraordinary that I have found 
this impossible. Therefore, I cannot hope to satis- 
factorily cover the full scope of the subject. I shall 
only touch upon certain phases of it, and will be 
content if what I may say shall be considered merely 
the preliminary or opening of a discussion which 
shall lead to the development of certain lines of 
thought which may prove not only interesting but 
beneficial. 

The highest type of citizenship is the development 
of the individual to the greatest degree consistent 
with the good of all. 

No one thing demonstrates the fact of the world's 
advancement in civilization so strikingly as the con- 
trast between citizenship to-day and of old. Once 
the people were but subjects, knowing and enjoying 

* An address delivered before The Pennsylvania Club, under the 
auspices of the Committee on Political Education, Philadelphia, 
March 6th, 1890. 

3 



no rights, but to obey. To-day, even under the de- 
pressing influences where monarchy or empire pre- 
vail, the march of the development of individualism 
is clearly apparent ; and under the bright sunlight 
where the favorable conditions of Democracy exist, 
we are rapidly approximating to the most liberal 
development of manhood citizenship. In a word, 
the ruling idea of the one was " the people are for 
the Government," but the controlling thought of the 
other is "the Government is for the people," and 
corollary to that, the great truth is manifest, that 
such perfect citizenship can only live under a " Gov- 
ernment of the people and by the people." In fact, 
until America set about solving the problem of self- 
government, furnishing an inspiration and example 
to the whole world, there was little desire or hope in 
this direction. 

To my mind, two great forces have, more than all 
others, contributed to move us thus far on the high 
road to citizenship in its best sense, and combine to 
guarantee the full measure of its enjoyment in the 
future, viz. : Education and party organization. 
The first, I imagine, you will all admit. The second, 
however, may seem a paradox. Ignorance is the 
badge of barbarism. Intelligence is the proud in- 
signia of civilization. The story of the struggles and 
hardships of mankind in the onward journey from 
the bondage of the one in search of the other is too 
long to be told. Instead of forty years in the wilder- 
ness, making the pilgrimage to the promised land, 
more than forty centuries have been occupied, and 
we are but just spying out the land. 

The campaign of conquest which has thus been 



waged for the education and uplifting of the people, 
has not been one steady, regular, onward movement, 
always successful and sweeping everything before it. 
At first, success in any degree was rare, and the on- 
ward movement hardly perceptible. "Afterwards and 
occasionally great victories were won, and, as in 
Greece and Rome, remarkable, yes, glorious results 
were manifest ; but they were only temporary. The 
softening, strengthening and broadening spirit of in- 
telligence was not vouchsafed the common people. 

It seemed for a time that the undertow had buried 
in the mid-ocean of the Mediaeval dark ages that fol- 
lowed, all hope for the future. But the never quiet 
waters once more brought it to the surface, and in 
the embrace of the ever recurring tide its seed was 
cast upon Britain's historic shores, whence, having 
taken root, it was transplanted to free America, where 
it has grown into a gigantic tree, whose " leaves are 
for the healing of the nations." 

Here the full meaning of citizenship is beginning 
to be realized. Not merely the right to live and eke 
out a precarious existence, not the mere subject 
obeying the uncertain command of Chief, Baron, 
Prince, or Potentate ; but the man endowed with cer- 
tain inalienable rights, which are guaranteed to him 
not only by usage and the common law, but by a 
written constitution. The Declaration of Indepen- 
dence epitomizes these rights as " life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness," and declares " that to secure 
these rights, governments are instituted among men, 
deriving their just powers from the consent of the 
' governed.' " 

Therefore, the indispensable and most valued right 



/ 



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of a citizen, indeed the one upon which the uninter- 
rupted enjoyment of all the others depend, is the 
right of self-government. The just measure, not 
only of his rights and privileges, but also of his 
responsibilities and duties in this regard is my chief 
purpose to-night. Primarily the duties of a citizen 
are to obey the law, to be honest and truthful, to be 
industrious and economical, to educate himself and 
family to such a degree as his surroundings will 
permit, and to vote. Citizenship implies allegiance 
to the government, and, of course, compels obedience 
to law. The ability of the citizen to be truthful and 
honest, industrious and economical, and to educate 
himself and family, indeed, to become good and 
useful, depends largely upon the character of the laws 
under which he lives, and in this country the char- 
acter of these laws depends chiefly upon himself. The 
happiness and prosperity of the people, their growth 
individually and collectively in all that is good and 
noble, can be best secured only under laws which 
permit the largest individual liberty consistent with 
the public good, and which insure absolute equality 
before the law. The Constitution of these United 
States, manifesting more than human wisdom, has 
most guardedly and comprehensively recognized and 
enunciated these propositions, and so far the people 
have, through their representatives, stamped the 
seal of their approval thereon by enacting laws con- 
sistent therewith. 

This land has therefore supplied a fertile soil for 
personal development. Every avenue for advance- 
ment has been opened to any and every man. The 
public schools, free to all, have furnished the founda- 



tion upon which thousands have proceeded to erect 
superstructures of infinite variety and usefulness. 
The public press, free almost to license, has added 
its quota to the general intelligence. Education, in 
a moderate degree, may be said to be well nigh uni- 
versal. Shrewdly applied to the great and diverse 
resources of our country it has brought about mar- 
velous prosperity. Fruitful of good as this is in 
many ways, it has one serious aspect. Men engrossed 
in private, professional and business affairs, neglect 
their public duties. They often fail to watch the 
current of public affairs and are gradually weaned 
from any desire to participate therein. Naturally, 
then, the control and administration of govern- 
mental policies has too often fallen into the hands of 
men who, failing to possess the necessary qualifica- 
tions for eminence or success in professional and 
business life, and having a taste for office, have become 
what are known as professional politicians. Tersely 
put, they are in politics for what there is in it. 

Parties are a necessity to a Republican form of 
government. " In a multitude of counselors there 
is wisdom," but the wisdom is the wheat that is sifted 
from the chaff after long discussion. 

Our nation's Constitution is the fine,, pure gold 
evolved from the fires of the Revolution, which in 
itself was the result of many years of discussion, 
leading up through fierce contests. Law is but the 
final crystallization of thought, originating in embryo, 
perhaps in the brain of one man, gradually broad- 
ened by popular discussion, and finally becoming 



fixed by the official action of the majority. Hence 
the incentive and need of party organizations. 

Our history supplies marked examples of the great 
work of such organizations. . The Federal Party 
evolved the thought of national unity and supreme 
Federal control, and engrafted it into the Constitu- 
tion. The Whig Party originated the American 
policy of protection, and the consequent development 
of our great natural resources. The Republican 
Party interpreted, broadly, the Federal view of the 
Constitution, and in pursuance thereof saved the 
nation's life. It made the spirit of the Constitution 
a verity, by freeing the slaves and enfranchising all 
men. Upholding protection, it took up the unfinished 
work of the Whig Party, and has built great pros- 
perity for the people thereon. The success or failure, 
the tendency for good or evil, of a party is determined 
by the character of its members. Composed of men 
who only have selfish interests to subserve, its policy 
will be low, truckling and dishonorable. Controlled 
by men of intelligence and patriotism, its line of 
action will be patriotic, honorable and glorious. 

A high grade of citizenship is secured by the culti- 
vation of the individual. Education is the chief 
instrument in this. In a popular government the 
individual can only be influential in governmental 
control through Party organizations. Therefore he 
who holds himself aloof from them limits his in- 
fluence and usefulness, and neglects his highest duty 
as a citizen. 

Any influence, therefore, which may be instru- 



9 

mental in enlisting our educated, able and successful 
farmer, professional, business and laboring men in 
active party work, is most worthy ©f commendation 
and encouragement; and this should not be spas- 
modic and occasional, it should rather be constant 
and permanent. I regard with great approval the 
recent tendency of intelligent men to organize them- 
selves into permanent political clubs. Their primary 
object, I believe, is for the study and discussion of 
live questions of the day. A secondary, though no 
less important object, should be, by personal contact 
and influence of the members with and upon each 
other, to inspire an active interest in the political 
movements of the times, making themselves felt by 
the public, not only as individuals, but as an organi- 
zation. I congratulate the members of the Pennsyl- 
vania Club upon the very advanced stand you have 
taken in this regard, and I shall strive to induce 
other similar organizations to emulate your example. 
I desire to speak to you for the time as Republicans. 
The first duty of a citizen is to his country, irrespective 
of party. When, in his best judgment, his party is 
clearly wrong, and is pursuing a course detrimental 
to the best interests of his Government and people, 
it is his duty to leave it, and seek new party affilia- 
tions. Remembering, however, the truth that in a 
popular form of government like our own, except 
in very exceptional instances, the only way to bring- 
about results and influence governmental policy is 
through the action of party ; if men are true to the 
performance of their whole duty to their party, this 
necessity will rarely, if ever, occur. You, and such 



10 

men as you, have it in your power to make the life 
of the Republican Party coextensive with that of the 
Nation itself, and equally glorious. The Republicans 
who are honest and unselfish in their love of Party 
and Country, outnumber the professional politicians, 
as it were five hundred to one. How many of them 
will remain so engrossed in the ordinary avocations 
of life as to be oblivious to the best interests of their 
party management, rests with you to determine. If 
they are so educated and interested as to keep quiet 
and constant watch, and are induced, not only to 
vote in the fall, but at the primaries, carefully select- 
ing the men who shall represent them and their 
party, the objects will be obtained. It is the province 
of just such an organization as yours to do this work ; 
once entered upon, it is not only interesting, but 
fascinating, and fruitful results are quick to follow. 

There has been great complaint of boss-ism and 
machine control in party politics. Occasionally 
these complaints have perhaps been in a measure 
well founded; but every time that of which they 
complain is the outgrowth of that which I have 
been inveighing against, viz. : The neglect of the in- 
telligent and busy citizen to do his duty. He is often 
content to leave party management and control 
alone for a lengthy period. He probably votes every 
year for his party's nominees, but pays no attention 
to their selection at the primaries or to the formation 
of the platform, until finally, in his judgment, they 
become so bad as to demand radical measures. 
Had he, as a member of his party, quietly and con- 
stantly done his individual duty, keeping abreast of 



11 

the living questions of the hour, discussing them 
with his neighbors and friends, attending the pri- 
maries and conventions, making the impress of his 
thoughts and opinion thereon, he would have pre- 
vented the growth of the evil, and would have 
avoided the labor and trouble incident to the cure, 
which is sometimes even worse than the disease it- 
self. So long as men are as we find them, possessed 
of different qualities of mind, varying in natural 
abilities, and with widely different opportunities for 
education and practical experience, so long will some 
outstrip the others in the race for success in life. 
The great body of mankind, intelligent though they 
may become under our favorable institutions, are 
bound to follow the lead of certain few men who are 
endowed with the intuitive gifts of leadership. 
Leaders are born, not made. That genius which 
enables a man at a glance to measure the capabili- 
ties of his fellows ; with a touch to feel the impulse 
of a community, of a state or the nation ; and with 
a thought to estimate the relative force of counter 
currents of sentiment, and so turn them one against 
the other as to bring forth satisfactory results, is the 
born leader. 

I know that so far as the present organization of 
the Republican party in Pennsylvania is concerned, 
without assuming to speak for it officially, its most 
cherished hope is to imbue a new and greater interest 
in the study of public affairs among the people who 
have not heretofore taken an active part in the party 
management, to inject new blood into our active 
ranks, and to broaden the basis and scope of party 



12 

councils and control. Thus will the best type of 
citizenship be enabled to exert its proper influence 
upon the nation. One thought more and I am done. 
The legal channel through which citizenship finally 
speaks is the ballot. Unless it is surrounded by 
safeguards to make and keep it pure, free and honest, 
the very existence of self-government is imperilled. 
Corruption is the most insidious and deadly in its 
attacks, for its poison may operate so secretly and yet 
so effectively as to eat into the vitals of the body 
politic before discovered. The ever watchful inter- 
vention of the class of citizens whom you represent 
in active political life and management, viz. : of men 
who, loving their country, are yet not selfishly mak- 
ing a living out of it, but who are engaged in the 
every-day avocations of private life, is the surest 
defence against it. 

That the exercise of the ballot should be free and 
honest, would seem to require no argument to main- 
tain. Yet the very logic of events makes this the 
burning question of the day. Shall every man of 
legal age and requirements be permitted to cast his 
ballot and have it honestly counted? The party 
which either directly or indirectly consents to prac- 
tices of fraud or intimidation whereby the will of the 
voters is subverted, deserves the reprobation of every 
citizen. It is our duty to favor the adoption of. any 
plan, looking to reform of our system of voting, 
which will tend to keep the people free from corrupt 
influences, and which will promote independence 
and freedom in casting the ballot, and absolute hon- 
esty in counting the vote, and declaring the result. 



13 

When such improved system is adopted, the entire 
power of the commonwealth and nation should be 
devoted to the fearless and impartial enforcement of 
the law. This must and will be done when the 
people, in the sovereignty of their rights, demand it. 
I thank you for the honor of this hearing. If our 
discussion shall increase our estimate of the value of 
citizenship, and add to our appreciation not only of 
its rights and privileges, but also of its duties and 
responsibilities; and if thus convinced we shall re- 
solve to do our individual part in the premises, our 
meeting will have been most happy and fortunate. 



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